Board Membership
The Faculty Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Board (FEDIB) ensures that the Faculty promotes diversity, equality and inclusion, values all staff and students and supports them to excel and develops a culture and working environment that encourages people to challenge themselves and others – openly, constructively, and with respect – to raise the quality of all we do together.
FEDIB is chaired by the Faculty PVC and Faculty EDI Director, supported by four, recently appointed, Deputy Directors of EDI, all of which form the Faculty EDI Leadership Team. Key roles and responsibilities of FEDIB include contributing towards achievement of the University’s EDI objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and setting and overseeing work towards Faculty specific EDI objectives and KPIs. The Faculty recently set 5 year targets related to gender and ethnicity balances, recruitment and promotions and FEDIB play an important role in driving these forward.
Sam Kingman
Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Engineering - EDI Chair
What does, equality, diversity and inclusion mean to you?
I want Engineering at Nottingham to be a great place to work, a place where lives are changed through inspirational education and a place where the inventions and innovations that will change the planet are conceived and developed. But I also want it to be a place where all colleagues feel supported, and can work in an environment which enables them to achieve their best.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
It is an honour to be the PVC for Engineering at Nottingham, to work with such great people who make a difference to so many others is incredible. On a personal level, I get most pleasure from supporting others to succeed and helping colleagues achieve what they set out to do, be that delivering a great educational experience, delivering fantastic innovation in research or achieving great outcomes in knowledge exchange.
Leah Ridgway
Associate Professor - EDI Co-Chair
Why is equality, diversity and inclusivity important to you?
Because I want everyone to have the support and encouragement to reach their full potential, no matter who they are and what challenges they face.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in Engineering?
If you want to make a difference to people’s lives, then engineering is the career for you. Engineering in three words is “Change the world”
Rachael Baines
Technical Services
Why is equality, diversity and inclusivity important to you?
Opportunities open to all to study/work to their full potential and the university benefits from having a wider pool of talent.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in Engineering?
As long as you are willing to adapt and learn new skills, you can have a long career as an engineering technician. With sufficient training, you can become competent in this role, and although a degree in your chosen field will be beneficial for career progression, it is not a necessity.
Louise Brown
Senior Research Fellow
Why is equality, diversity and inclusivity important to you?
It's been shown that teams function better when they have a diverse makeup, so it's import ant for us to make sure that we give everyone the opportunity to follow their chosen career path and therefore create the pool of people needed to make up those great teams.
What's been the greatest moment of your career so far?
I think this would have to be gaining an EPSRC Research Software Engineering fellowship. It's given me a huge number of opportunities both in my research area and to help establish the RSE career path in academia.
Laura Conkey
Department Coordinator
What does EDI mean to you?
It means recognising and celebrating the diversity of our workplace, giving colleagues the opportunity to express their needs and creating a supportive work environment.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The variety of jobs and the mix of people makes the faculty and the university a really interesting place to work. It’s also the people that make it, it’s clear that everyone cares about each other and we’re all in this together.
Sarah Davidson
Associate Professor
Why is equality, diversity and inclusivity important to you?
Because talent should be allowed to flourish and should be free of barriers.
What's the biggest challenge in your field?
The adoption of new technology, processes and ways of working to improve productivity and impact in the construction industry.
Ioanna Dimitriou
Assistant Professor
Why is equality, diversity and inclusivity important to you?
The greater the mix of people in the university, the greater the mix of skills, experiences and ideas we can draw on. Our university should be a place where everyone is valued as an individual and all employees have a choice and their own beliefs and values are respected.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Working in a friendly department, the interaction with undergraduate and postgraduate students and exciting research towards climate change mitigation.
April Extall-Black
Resource Officer
What does EDI mean to you?
It means working with and celebrating the diversity of students and staff and ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to be the best version of themselves.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The variety of the people that I interact with on a daily basis and the work that I do. No day is ever the same!
Jan-Frederik Flor
PhD Student
Why is equality, diversity and inclusivity important to you?
Because building the future with the participation of a diverse range of people in equal terms raises the hope for a world where everybody feels included and finds the means for fulfilling their dreams.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
I am an international student and architect by training. I have spent some time in the industry designing and building lightweight membrane structures around the world before deciding to come back to academia and venturing on a PhD course at Nottingham University. Energy performance of buildings has become the centre of my research interest, and now, nearly at the end of my studies, I am excited to see some of the ideas for sustainable buildings become reality in the not so far future
Lynda Gamble
HR Business Partner
What does equality, diversity and inclusivity mean to you?
That everyone, no matter what their background and characteristics, have access to systems and structures to enable them to be the best they can be in a genuinely supportive environment where difference is celebrated.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The variety of my work and of course my colleagues - you never know what is going to be the challenge from one day to the next! Also seeing commitment and tangible progress on the EDI agenda and being part of initiatives that make a genuine difference.
Dafne Gaviria Arcila
PhD Student
Why is equality, diversity and inclusivity important to you?
It is important to include everybody because everybody has something to say based in their background and experiences which enrich any decision-making. If everybody feels included it can be observed an environment with harmony and happiness.
What's the biggest challenge in your field?
The biggest challenge for me now is finishing my PhD thesis.
Paul Halford
Senior Technician
What does equality, diversity and inclusivity mean to you?
Everyone should be treated equally no matter what their role in society is, we should protect people from being discriminated against on the grounds of group membership i.e. Sex, Race Disability, Sexual Orientation Religion, Belief or Age.
How would you explain your area of work?
Varied, and Satisfying.
David Hargreaves
Associate Professor in Civil Engineering
What does equality, diversity and inclusivity mean to you?
The ability to put yourselves in the shoes of others and to appreciate the challenges they face and be prepared to do something about it.
Why is equality, diversity and inclusivity important to you?
Because I’ve seen what it’s like when it’s missing and it’s not good.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Watching the quiet - sometimes bewildered - first years grow into the confident, capable people striding across the stage at graduation.
Melissa Mather
Professor of Biomedical Imaging
What does, equality, diversity and inclusion mean to you?
As a human race we are intrinsically diverse and as individuals we are all unique. Indeed, the varied perspectives and talents of individuals and groups of people enriches our lives. These differences however are not always recognised in a positive way. Unfortunately the small differences we have as individuals is what often causes division and discrimination. To me equality, diversity and inclusion is the celebration of our differences and recognition of the fundamental importance diversity is to society.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
It is a privilege to pursue a research career at the University of Nottingham. My job provides me with the opportunity to discover new aspects of science and design new measurement technologies. I also have the opportunity to work with excellent colleagues in a working environment that embraces the uniqueness of individuals.
Rachel Moore
Assistant Professor
What does equality, diversity and inclusivity mean to you?
When people from different backgrounds, with different experiences and traits work together, that’s when society really progresses. We need inclusion to make sure no one is left out and that everyone has a voice. Too many people are skipped over due to their circumstances.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The Foundation Programme supports a high proportion of Widening Participation students. I enjoy seeing students, who come on to the program feeling like imposters, leave the program to start their degree feeling more confident.
Samanta Piano
Assistant Professor
What does equality, diversity and inclusivity mean to you?
We are all different, it is our diversity that makes everyone unique and special, however it is important that everybody is treated equally and have the possibility to express themselves
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The dynamicity of my work, doing different things every day and have the possibility to work with different people all around the world: with different cultures and personalities.
Andrew Plummer
Technical Services
What does equality, diversity and inclusivity mean to you?
That whoever we are, we shouldn’t be denied an opportunity.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The variety: Be that in the form of jobs we undertake here in the workshop or the people I meet daily bringing those jobs to the workshop.
Eva Roemer-Barnes
Administrator/Receptionist,
What does equality, diversity and inclusivity mean to you?
Equality, diversity and inclusion means celebrating difference and the belief that regardless of gender, ethnicity, class, ability, age, sexual orientation, religion or the way someone looks or dresses, opportunities should be available to each and every one of us. When we are all welcome, we all benefit.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The contact with staff, students and visitors. Also, the simple fact that I can make someone’s day by just being kind, thoughtful and by trying to do my job to the best of my ability. And a smile certainly never hurts :)
Brendan Ryan
Assistant Professor
What does equality, diversity and inclusivity mean to you?
It is about having respect for everyone, in how think about and interact with them. We shouldn’t focus on differences – we are all unique and have much to offer.
How would you explain your area of work?
In Ergonomics and Human Factors people are important. We help in designing the world around us, with a clear focus on people. Diversity must be a part of this. Things may not always be easy to achieve in practice, but we need to start somewhere.
Claire Simpson
Education and Student Experience Department Support Manager
Why is equality, diversity and inclusivity important to you?
We live in an ever changing world and we need to ensure individuals or groups of individuals are not treated differently or less favourably, on the basis of their specific protected characteristic, including areas of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and age. We can then respect and value people’s differences to contribute and realise their full potential by promoting an inclusive culture for all staff and students. Through being involved in the work of the committee we can make sure we equip staff and students with the skills to challenge inequality and discrimination in their work/study environment.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
I have worked at the University of Nottingham for around 20 years covering a number of key professional service departments. These range from Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions, Student Operations and Support and Student Services. I have also worked in a medical school along with a research-intensive school and a University spin-out company. I feel I have an excellent understanding of the organisation and have numerous key relationships across the institution. I’m proud to work for the University in creating an inclusive culture for all staff and students, ensuring equal access to opportunities to enable students to fully participate in the learning process and enabling all staff and students to develop to their full potential.
Liz Simpson
Performance and Business Systems Manager
What does equality, diversity and inclusivity mean to you?
Ensuring equal access to opportunities for staff and students to fully participate in their learning process.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The interaction with staff and the variety of content.
Chris Sprange
Strategic Intelligence Analyst
What does equality, diversity and inclusivity mean to you?
It means supporting and celebrating the individual and allowing everyone to thrive whilst being themselves.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
I have had a varied career working within the Civil Service, private industry and the Police so I have experience working in a varied variety of organisations.
Laura Walker
Faculty of Engineering Wellbeing Activities Officer
Why is equality, diversity and inclusivity important to you?
Because when we work together with true mutual respect we can create a happier, healthier environment which in turn can produce amazing achievements and outcomes. When every individual is valued for who they are - no matter their background, identity, appearance, age, gender or ability it brings out the best in people. We can then draw on each other's strengths and work together to build a better world.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Thinking creatively about how to promote health and empower staff to improve their wellbeing. Having the opportunity to help people to be happier and healthier is a big motivation. Creating a culture of wellbeing and seeing how people may be helped, even in small ways, by communications, activities, events or even having a chat is inspiring and rewarding.